Electric signal switch



Aug. 16, 1938. T. J. CONVERSE ELECTRIC SIGNAL SWITCH Filed June 21, 1937 ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug'. I6, k1,9438

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE ELECTRIC SIGNAL SWITCH Tommy Converse, Bellingham, Wash.

Application June 21, 1937, Serial'No. 149,305

' 1 Claim. (Cl. 200-153) My invention relates to improvements in electric signal switches for use with donkey logging engines-especially those operated by gasolineand has for an object to provide a switch which may be disposed on the engine and operated by a pull on a signal wire to close an electric circuit through a locally-disposed battery and electric horn.

Another object of my invention is to provide if: for the proper operation of the switch by a pull on the signal wire when the same is extended in any desired direction from the engine.

Other objects of my invention will appear as the description proceeds.

i5 I attain these and other objects of my invention with the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying sheet of drawings, which forms a part cf this specification, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my electric switch, Fig. 2 is a 3i plan View of Fig. l, Fig. 3 is a fragmentary portion of Fig. l shown partly in section on a medial, horizontal longitudinal plane, drawn on a larger scale, and Fig. 4 is a diagram of the electric wiring connections.

`Similar characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views. Certain parts are broken away to show other parts hidden thereby.

With more particular reference to designated parts: The inclined flat spring 5 has a curved upper end 6 overlade with a suitable electriccontact metal 'i and mounted on the cap 8 which has downwardly bent ends 9 to drain olf any water which may come thereon. The upper end of the spring 5 extends above the cap 8. The

spring 5 and the cap 8 are fastened on top of the crossarm Iii, with insulation plate I4 intervening,

by the bolts I5 and IG which are extended through holes therein. The end of the bolt I5 is extended beyond its clamping nut and is provided with a nut for use as a binding post. The bolts I5 and I6 are insulated from the crossarm I0 by the bushings i7, Il' and the insulation discs I8, I8.

The crossarm I0 is on the frame arm II which is extended from the annular bearing I2. The binding post I3 is conveniently disposed on the arm Ii and electrically connects with the frame of the switch. Another annular bearing 29 is disposed beneath the said bearing I2 in alignment therewith and both'are fastened to the To frame post I9 which is extended above the bearing I2 and has the bearing ears 24, 24 on the upper end thereof. rEhe upper end of the oscillatory arm 25 is disposed between the bearing ears 26 and pivoted for oscillation thereon by 55 the pin 25. The lower end 25a of the arm 25 .is of increased width and has the long slot 21 therein. The `stud 28 is fastened to the post I 9 and extends through the slot 2l with its outer end threaded and engaging the set-nuts 29 to limit the outer oscillations of the arm 25. The 5 finger 39, on the upper end of' the arm 25, ex-

ltends over the curved end 6 of the spring 5 and has the enlarged end 3i to bear on and contact with the contact metal l of the spring 5 and make electrical connection therewith when the 10 arm 25 oscillates outwardly. The bearing ears 32 extend outwardly from the lower end of the post i9. The inner end. of the spring rod 33 is extended through the said slot 2l and has the eye 34 thereon which is disposed between the 15 said ears 32 and pivoted thereto by the pin 35. The spring rod 33 has its outer end threaded and extended through a hole in the upper end of the bearing plate 36 and boss 3l thereon and is retained in place by the set-nuts 38 engaged 20 on its said threaded end. The helical spring 39 with the bearing washers 49 and 4I disposed on its ends is mounted on the spring rod 33 between the slotted end 25a of the arm 25 and the boss 3'1 of the bearing plate 36. The desired 25 pressure on the spring 39 is attained byadjusting the set-nuts 38. The tension rod l2 has the eye i3 on its inner end which is disposed in the lower end of the slot 2l and pivoted to the lower end 25a of the arm 25 by the pin All. The outer 30 end of the rod 42 has a hole therein and is extended through a guide hole in the lower end of the plate 36 to dispose it alongside of the spring rod 33 and spaced therefrom. An end of the signal wire d5 is fastened to the outer end 35 of the tension rod 42 engaged in the said hole in the end thereof. A stud shaft 2I has the annular boss 22 thereon and a threaded lower end 2IeL which, preferably, is engaged'with a fixed part of the said donkey engine. The upper end of the shaft ZI is extended through the aligned bearings 29 and i2 disposing the bearing 29 to bear on the boss 22. The spring Cotter pin 23 is extended through a hole through the shaft above and proximate to the bearing 20 to retain 45 the mechanism in place on the shaft.

In diagrammatic Fig. 4, the battery 45 has a terminal connected with one binding post 49 of the electric horn 4l, the other binding post 48 of the horn is connected with the frame binding 50 post i3, which thus is electrically connected with the finger 30 and the Contact end 3I thereof, and the contact I of the spring 5 is connected through the binding post I 5 with the other battery terminal. Preferably the horn 41 is mounted on 55 the engine and the battery is disposed adjacent thereto.

In operation: Assuming the shaft 2| to be set vertically on an upper part of the donkey engine with the boss 22 disposed to provide a clear space for the mechanism to swing around the shaft 2 I. Then the signal wire 45 may lead in any desired direction from the engine and a pull thereon Will tend to compress the spring 39 and move the arm 25 outward toward the set-nuts 29, say, to the position indicated in dotted lines at 25'; then the pin 134 will be at 44', the rod 42 at 42', the wire 45 at 45', the nger 3!) at 30', bearing on the curved part 6 of the spring 5 and moving it to its dotted-line position at 6', and making electrical connection between the nger 30 and the spring 5 thus closing the electric circuit and sounding the electric horn 41. When the pull on the wire 45 ceases the reaction of the spring 39 will tend to return the arm 25 and all other movable parts of the mechanism to their solid-line positions and the connection between the nger 30 and the spring 5 will cease and the horn will stop sounding.

As stated, the entire switch is free to revolve on the shaft 2l as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2, and the part of the structure supported by the rods 33 and 42 is quite free to swing on the pins 35 and 44 as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1. The position of the latter part, as shown in Fig. 1, is quite nearly that which it assumes when held operatively tense by a tightly stretched signal wire.

Having thus disclosed my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-

An electric signal switch including, a switch frame, an electric contact spring fastened to the said frame insulated therefrom, an arm pivoted on the said frame for oscillation, a finger extension on one end of the said arm disposed to make electric contact with the said contact spring by the oscillation of the said arm, resilient means operable between the said frame and the said arm tending to retain the said finger out of contact with the said contact spring, a signal wire attached tothe other end of the said arm to oscillate the said arm against the said resilient means and force the said finger to contact the said contact spring, a stud shaft adapted for fastening on a supporting structure, and aligned bearings on the said frame having their axis disposed in the plane of oscillation of the said arm mounted for revolution on the said stud shaft.

TOMMY J. CONVERSE. 

